Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-16

death he cried out, ''For Gods sake.
send up that last form"
DUTIES OF THE CITY EDITOR.
The city editor, in the morning.
makes what are termed assignments
for the various reporters, /. E., orders as
to the particular subjects they are to
or events that they are to
or interviews which they are
to seek. These are entered in a book.
Ii he leaves the office, say at six in the
he should first confer with
the night reporters as to their work, and
then he must delegate control of his
to some assistant or subor-
dinate for the evening. The editor-in-
chief often gives great deal of atten-
tion to the night work. Whitelaw Reid,
even after he ceased staying at the edi-
torial office of the Tribune in the even
ing. for long time kept mp the habit of
important points by private
wire from his house until midnight
Where this is not done the night editor
becomes autocrat pro TEN. The editorial
must be made up at night either
by some one regularly appointed to that
task or by the editorial writers in ro.a-
tion.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
Then there is the Telegraph editor
who, in some offices, ia set to watch the
latest dispatches as they arrive and
write short comments on the most i'm
portant of them.
The financial editor has to supervise
the market reports and get in a luminous
and comprehensive review of them each
afternoon as promptly as may be.
The sporting editor, also, has his
special duties, which are by no means
easy, in reporting. with his assistant.
horse and yatch races, baseball, athletic
games and matches. etc.
the exchange editor, who properly
belongs to the editorial department., is q
man whose value is little understood
outside. He is obliged to read scores of
papers every day from all parts of the
United States, and. with sharp shears
and a still sharper discerning eye, clip
out whatever may be of interest to the
several departments and the various edi-
torial writers; marking and distributing
these extracts. His is marvellous fac,
ulty; his work is most wearing and re-
quires unflsgging industry, with excel
lent Judgment.
The managing editor, besides direct
ing his sub-comnanders and receiving
their reports, ought to consult with the
editorial staff frequently. and must re-
port to and receive orders from the chief
all through the day. There should also
be daily council of the chief with his
editorial writers to determine policy and
plan the next days campaign. TnUs
the two great divisions are brought
and act in concert
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Now, as to actual experience and
qualifications. The beginner will prob
ably start as a reporter. and will often
find it dislgreeable, humlliating work.
A college graduate, of the highest
may be sent out to report
fires, which, by the way-with the con-
fusion and excitement of the sesns. the
rapid action, the difficulty of getting the
names of owners and tenants of the
burning buildings. the amoun.s of loss
jobs in journalism; probably, next to !.
nominating convention, the
most difficult. He must despiss nothing.
however. He has to do whatever Is laid
out for him with all his might, and thsa
be ready to be treated with snnbs or in
science by a superior. Such reporters
are salaried, but the best and most in
telligent generally do .'spsce work,
being paid by the piece; but mere pad
ding" will not be allowed on a good
paper. 1t will be ''eiitsd out" by the
''copy holder" The tirst-rate reporter
must know when to spread" and when
to be suceinct. The average reporter 5
salary would be about 81, 200 a year.
"Space work" may bring bright man
SIS, rarely 500. a week Taxing all
reporters together, IL is not probable
that the average earning throughout a
whole working life would be more than
$40 week; and this wage is won at an
enormous cost of physical and mental
exertion; for the hours OF work range
from ten to eighteen day.
GENERAL UTILITY.
1t is often difficult for reporter to
make his way into any other position:
but it is a good idea for the aspiring
journalist to familiarizs himself with
the various departments and to offer
editorial and other writing. in the hope
of enlarging his field. Yet he will have
to do this meekly aud without interfer-
ing. Newspaper offices are full of leal-
ousy and mutual criticism and the young
man must tread softly and speak low.
burden, il you can take it, On the
other hand, it is not desirable to bs
crushed with overwork- The young
journalist has to reconcile modesiy and
obedience with extreme boldness: not
an easy union. Irecall a journalist oi
note. once a managing
editor, to whom 1 applied for work
He frightened me GU. of my boots. at
first, by his gruf manner. Finally he
printed a four-iine sqnib in verse and.
me with his eyes, said.
"7Hat,s about the sort of thing you can
do for u.s." was surprised. but thought
he must have gaugsd my utmost eapaci-
ty. Since then | have found that l
could do several other kinds of Journal
istic work. Still, it probably did me no
harm to be impressed with SO m0derate
a view OF my powers, at that time.
oBEYING Orders
Much later on 1 was reporting some
for New York daily. by mail,
and had been absolutely instructed to
keep within certain limits which knew
to be too narrow. An important oe-
casion came, and l sacrificed it to my
positive Instructions. Promptly 1 re-
seived word, '.Anothsr time throw
regulation reporting to the winds"
made no reply, but seized the next oeca-
sion for long verbatim report This
illustrates the necessity Of boldly DISC
beying orders, on occasions. and taking
Ihe risk; but you are quite As likely to
be condemned as to be praised. The best
way is for headquarters to grant room
Tor discretion at the outset. Offices
liffer greatly as to this The aristocraey
may be harsh and inconsistent, or it
nav be bland and benevolent, knowing